Combination water and foam sprinkler unit



July 1, 1952 1.. w. BOERNER COMBINATION WATER AND FOAM SPRINKLER UNIT Filed July 21, 1950 LEwus W- BOERNER ATTORNEY Patented July 1, 1952 I f COMBINATION WATER AN FOAM SPRINKLER UNIT v Lewis 'WJBoerner, West Chester, Pa., assighor to National Foam System, Inc., West Chester, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application July 21, 1950, Serial No. 175,068

- This invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and more particularly to an improved sprinkler head capable of use not only to produce and discharge a uniformly distributed blanket of fire-extinguishing'air foam', but-also as an effec- "tive'water sprinkler capable of discharging a spray "of water having a distribution pattern sub- -stantiallythe same asthat of the foam.

Among the principal objects of the present invention is to provide'a combination foam and water sprinkler head which is adapted for use in a fixed fire protection system and which is operative; when the system is manually or automatically' set in operation, to initially project mechanical or air foam over the protected area to knock-down and extinguish the fire, follow ing which the sprinkler head continues to dis- 6 Claims. (Cl. 169-15) charge Water over said area to suppress any tendency of the fire to flare up; Inasmuch as the sprinkler head is designed to discharge water or foam .with equal facility and fire extinguishing efiiciency,'no change is required in the system for use of the sprinkler. heads either with water alone or; with a water-solution of foam-forming material, g

It has been found that spill and surface fires,

particularly of such flammable liquids as benzene and the like, are very effectively extinguished and controlled by the use of the combination foamwater sprinkler heads of the present invention when installed as elements of a fixed piping system, such as an open system in which the several sprinkler heads are all normally open, or a closed system wherein the, heads are all closed by fusible elements which are respectively operative when subjected to heat of predetermined:temperature to open and render effective only those sprinkler heads which are inthe immediate fire to be extinguished; l v

The sprinkler head of thepresent invention is of such design and construction as'to most effectivelydischarge over thearea of the fire, first, an effective fire-smothering-blanket of air foam, and, second, an evenly distributed spray of water which operates in conjunction with the previously applied blanket of foam to further effectively control the fire, the water thus uniformly distributed over the area of the foam blanket being free of any localized high velocity jets which might tend to disrupt the foam blanket.

Further, the sprinkler head of the present invention is advantageous in that it may be employed with equal efiiciency to discharge either foam or water uniformly over a given area to be protected andconsequently it may continue to region of a function as a water sprinkler after the supply of foam-forming liquid has been exhausted, this being of especial importance in automatically operative fire protection systems having fixed piping wherein the supply of foam-forming liquid may become exhausted before the fire has been discovered. In such cases, the continued application of water to the fire area effectively controls the fire, even if it does not completely extinguish it, until such time as a further supply of foam-forming liquid is introduced into the system for the production and application of foam by the sprinkler heads of the system.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings andas finally pointed outin theappended claims.

In the drawings, which are illustrative of a preferred construction of the prese'ntinvention: Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a fixed piping system including thesprinkler heads of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view said sprinkler heads;

' Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed the sprinkler'head of the present. invention, designated generally by the reference'numeral Hi, comprises a'body'member of one of H in the form of a pipe coupling adapted to be orifices I5, these orifices being uniformly spaced circumferential-11y about the central longitudinal axis of the unit with their respective axes relatively so inclined that they intersect one another at a point located on the axis of the conduit I3 somewhat in advance of the member [4. It 'will be apparent that the several jets of liquid discharged through the orificesv [5 will converge toward and impinge one another and so subject the stream of liquid delivered to the inlet end of the conduit I3 to a high degree of turbulence.

Formed in the wall of the conduit I3 in the region of impingement of the liquid jets discharged through the orifices I5 are a plurality of air inlet openings I6 of suitable number and cross-sectional areas to provide for maximum entrainment of air from atmosphere into the turbulent stream of liquid projected upwardly through the conduit I3, such entrainment of air in a stream of foam-forming liquid resulting in the production of mechanical or air foam.

Suitably provided in the discharge endof the conduit I3 is a spider or other such member I! having a central socket I8 for receiving the lower end of the supporting stem I9 of a spreader 20. This spreader, as best shown in Figure 2, essentially comprises an inverted truncated'cone 2i having a top piece in the form of a relatively large diameter circular plate 23, which latter may be formed, if desired, as an integral part of its supporting cone 2!. This plate 23 and its underlying inverted cone 2 I, which together constitute the spreader end of the sprinkler head, is vertically spaced above the discharge end of the conduit I3 and in such axial alinement therewith that when the fire-extinguishing medium, either foam or water, isprojected from the conduit in the form of a high velocity stream, a substantial part of the projected stream impinges against the spreader plate 23 and is radially and downwardly deflected thereby to cover a relatively large area beneath the sprinkler head. At the same time, a

portion of the projected stream is directed upwardly to the ceiling area above the sprinkler head by the upwardly and outwardly flared surface of the cone 2i and by the correspondingly flared circular edge of the spreader plate 23. Thus, the fixed sprinkler head, whether used with foam or with water, effectively protects not only the floor area below the head but also the ceiling, beams, etc. located above, as well as adjoining wall surfaces located to the side of a given sprinkler head in operation.

Preferably, in order to insure that the foam or water stream discharged from the conduit I 3 is directed in full force and volume against the spreader plate 23, the major portion of the supporting stem I9 of the spreader is embraced within a sleeve 24 which is suitably secured to the upper end of the conduit I3 as a continuation thereof. The internal diameter of the sleeve 24 is preferably somewhat greater than that of the conduit I3 to compensate for the loss in crosssectional discharge area of the sleeve due to disposition of the stem I9 therein, the passage through the sleeve 24 being thus substantially of the same effective discharge area as that through the conduit I3.

If desired, a conical screen 25 may be fitted in the lower end of the conduit I3 to prevent entrance into the orifices I5 of solid substances which may clog the same, it being noted that this screen is of such design and construction and is so disposed as not to interfere with the free fiow of the fire extinguishing medium through the fixed piping system and upwardly therefrom into and through each sprinkler head.

It will be understood, of course, that when foam-forming solution is introduced at suitable pressure into the fixed piping system, designated generally by the reference numeral 26 in Figure 1, fire-extinguishing air foam will be generated as the solution is discharged through the orifices I5 and entrains air from atmosphere through the air inlet openings I 6, the foam so produced being conveyed upwardly through the conduit I3 for discharge at relatively high velocity against the spreader 20 from which it is outwardly and downwardly projected to form a fire-smothering blanket,

Preferably, the foam forming solution delivered to the sprinkler heads is prepared by suitable introduction of a foaming liquid into the water supplied to the fixed piping system, as by way of a pressure proportioner of the type shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,327,- 335 of August 24, 1943, while any suitable means may be provided to automatically trigger the application of the fire-extinguishing medium to the sprinkler heads of the present invention for discharge therefrom to and upon the fire. Upon exhaustion of the foam-forming solution, water will be continued to be supplied through the system for discharge from the sprinkler heads to provide protection as in any conventional deluge sprinkler system.

If desired, the sprinkler heads may be each provided with a fusible disk 21, as shown in Figure 2, which overlies the inlet end of the member I 4 and normally seals the orifices I5 against passage of water or foam-forming solution therethrough. The fusible disk 21 is, of course, made a fixedpiping system of the open type wherein the flow of the fire extinguishing medium through the system and out of the several sprinkler heads is automatically or manually controlled by suitable valves located as desired in the piping system.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a fire extinguishing system of the character described, a fixed piping system connected to a source of water supply under pressure, and a plurality of deluge sprinkler units connected into said piping system at spaced points along the length thereof, each of said units including a conduit having a discharge -end, mea ns in its opposite end for projecting afinely divided liquid stream through said conduit, means for entraining air from atmosphere into said finely divided stream to form air foam when said liquid is in the form'of a foam-formingsolution, said sprinkler units being operative to produce and discharge therefrom air foam so long as they are supplied with foam-forming solution and, upon exhaustion of the latter, to effectively continue to discharge therefrom water supplied thereto by said fixed piping system, and means at the discharge end of each conduit for deflecting the discharged stream outwardly and downwardly about said conduit. 7

2. In a fire extinguishing system of the character described, a fixed piping system connected to a source of water supply under pressure, and a plurality of deluge sprinkler units connected into said piping system at spaced points along the length thereof, each of said units including a vertically extending conduit having an opentopped discharge end, means in its bottom end for projecting a finely divided high velocity liquid stream upwardly through said conduit, means for entraining air from atmosphere into said finely divided stream to form air foam when said liquid is in the form of a foam-forming solution, said sprinkler units being operative to produce and discharge therefrom air foam so long as they are supplied with foam-forming solution and, upon exhaustion of the latter, to effectively continue to discharge therefrom water supplied thereto by said fixed piping system, and a deflector plate axially spaced from the discharge end of the conduit and arranged to intercept the stream of fire extinguishing material and deflect it radially about the axis of said conduit discharge end.

3. A combination air foam-water sprinkler head comprising a conduit having a discharge end and means for injecting a finely divided stream of liquid into said conduit for projection through the conduit, said conduit being provided with air inlet openings for entrainment of air from atmosphere into said stream of liquid, and a deflector plate axially spaced from the discharge end or the conduit and arranged to intercept the stream of liquid and deflect it radially about the axis of said conduit discharge end, said sprinkler head being adapted to produce and discharge air foam as a fire extinguishing medium when the liquid supplied thereto is in the form of a a foam-forming solution and to discharge water as the fire extinguishing medium when the latter is supplied thereto free of any foam-forming agent.

4. A combination air foam-water sprinkler head comprising a vertically extending conduit having an upper discharge end and a bottom end provided with means for injecting a finely divided stream of liquid into said conduit for high velocity projection upwardly through the conduit, said conduit being provided with air inlet openings for entrainment of air from atmosphere in said stream of liquid, and a deflector plate axially spaced from the upper discharge end of the conduit and arranged to intercept the stream of liquid and deflect it outwardly and downwardly about said conduit, said sprinkler head being adapted to produce and discharge air foam as a fire extinguishing medium when the liquid supplied thereto is in the form of a foamforming solution and to discharge water as the fire extinguishing medium when the latter is supplied thereto free of any foam-forming agent.

5. A combination air foam-Water sprinkler head comprising a vertically extending conduit having an upper discharge end and a bottom end provided with means for injecting a finely divided stream of liquid into said conduit for high velocity projection upwardly through the conduit, said conduit being provided with air inlet openings for entrainment of air from atmosphere in said stream of liquid, and a deflector plate axially spaced from the upper discharge end of the conduit and arranged to intercept the stream of liquid and deflect it radially about said conduit, said sprinkler head being adapted to produce and discharge air foam as a fire extinguishing medium when the liquid supplied thereto is in the form of a foam-forming solution and to discharge water as the fire extinguishing medium when the latter is supplied thereto free of any foam-forming agent, the sprinkler head being adapted to produce substantially the same distribution pattern for the water as for the air foam.

6. A combination air foam-water sprinkler head comprising a vertically extending conduit having an upper discharge end and a bottom end provided with means for injecting a finely divided stream of liquid into said conduit for high velocity projection upwardly through the conduit, said conduit being provided with air inlet openings for entrainment of air from atmosphere in said stream of liquid, a deflector plate axially spaced from the upper discharge end of the conduit and arranged to intercept the stream of liquid and deflect it radially about said conduit, said sprinkler head being adapted to produce and discharge air foam as a fire extinguishing medium when the liquid supplied thereto is in the form' of a foam-forming solution and to discharge water as the fire extinguishing medium when the latter is supplied thereto free of any foam-forming agent, and heat-responsive means normally sealing said conduit against the flow of liquid therethrough, said means being operative to open said conduit to the flow of liquid therethrough when subjected to heat of predetermined degree.

LEWIS W. BOERNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,259,903 Patterson Mar. 19, 1918 1,592,346 Erwin July 13, 1926 1,727,111 Moore Sept. 3, 1929 2,388,508 Timpson Nov. 6, 1945 

